Slit socket clamped joint with compressed gasket



Feb. 22, 1955 M. D. BASOLO ET AL SLIT SOCKET CLAMPED JOINT WITH COMPRESSED GASKET Filed Aug. 26, 1952 INVENTORS MENOTO D. BASOLO CLAIR D. SPRAGUE Aem United States Patent 6 SLIT SOCKET CLANIPED JOINT WITH COMPRESSED GASET Menoto D. Basolo and Clair D. Sprague, Burbank, Califi, assignors to' Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, Calif.

Application August 26, 1952, Serial No. 306,318

2 Claims. (Cl. 285-164) tional'iunions, and the like, to connect the sections of' Therconventional tube couplingsland the such tubing. unions embody; a considerable number of machinedwparts and are, therefore, expensive to manufacture and some what complicated to instalhand are bulky and heavy in weight.- Furthermore, the usual unions'and couplings d'oi not have'full diametered passages but constitute restric tionsorareas of reduced 'diarneter'in thefiuid lines;

Another objectof the invention. isto provide tubing joints-that ern-body or require. a minimum of parts: and, therefore,,are light'in Weight and inexpensive: ln'accordance with our invention a simple seal ring. or. Oring directly engages between'the surfacesofitelescopicallyi related portions-of the'tubesthemselves'andan: appro' priate clamp-serves to clamp-one tube onto the'other to mechanieallyconnect the tubes. Thesealring" and the.clamp,.-are'the only partsrequired or employed in addition to the-tubesthemselves.

Another object of theinvention"istoprovidetubingz jointsofltbistype that are extremely easy toi'assernbleorr install. Inempioyingthe :coupling or'joint of 'the invenition' a plain 'endportion of one tubing section or length of tubing. is merely, slid or introduced? into: a slightly enlarged end portion of the other section'of.tubinget0" engage through an'O ring-thereinand 'the clamp isztheni actuated or tightened around said enlarged portion,.which' is preferably slit lengthwise, to secure. orclampf'tlre 'sec tions together. All that is required is to slide one tube within therotherrand'ithenriactuate thezlclamp." Where the clamp is handcrrnanua-lly, actuated'no tools. whatsoever are needed while'in' other 'cases'onlya simple hand tool is needed to actuate or tighten the clamp;

A-' further object of the invention is--to rprovideatubingi joint-of the character described that provides or preserves a full diametered unrestricted fiuid passage through. the tubing assembly. As above noted .the'end portion. ofione; tubing section is plain and of full .uniform' diameter'andi this tubing fitswithin the slightlyenlarged portion of :the. other tubingtoi be flush with the internalsurface of the remainder of said other tubing; Thustthe passagewaythrough'the joint is unobstructed and of full uniform diameter.

A still further objectis to provide 'a"union type fitting or'joint wherein the joint or. union member may 'b'e slid back on'eith'er'zof the tubing sections; This allows'ithe joint to be made up and disconnected without disturbing the other joints in the system or line.

Other objectives and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of typical preferred embodiments throughout which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view of one form of tubing joint of the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal detailed sectional View of a double joint or union of the invention incorporating a 2,702,716 Patented Feb. 22,. 1955:

slightly difierent formv ofv clamp'means and showinga portion of the assembly inside elevation; and

Figure'4 isz-a-transverse detailed sectionalviewtaken substantially; as indicated by linei44 on Figure :lshow ing the clamp in end elevation.

Figures .1. and 2 of the drawings illustrate the invention employed to join or coupletwo lengths of tubing-wand: 11' of the type used extensively in airplanes. Thex tubin'g has relatively thin walls and, in practice, is often con structed. of an aluminum alloy. The .tube is plain' and of uniform diameter'both internally and externally. The: tubell, which is :usually 'ofthe same materialand the same diameter as the tube 10, is provided at its endiwith' a region or portion 12 of enlarged diameter. This ?portion 12 is enlargedto receive the endpart .ofthe tube 10 and, in practice, the parts are relatedlso that'the tubing210 may be manually slid-into the enlarged portion 12 to closely fit therein. It is :to be noted 'thatthe. tubes "lfl and 11 have relatively thin walls soth'atiit is not'necessary tomaterially increase'the" diameter of the portion 12 to:

receive the tube 10. A shallow shoulder 13 is'present' in the tubing 11 where'theenlarged portion 12 joinsor merges'with the main body of lthertabing. It is preferred tobringitheend:orextremityv ofthe tubing 10 against or immediately adjacent: this shoulderi13 so that the internal wall-:ofsthe tubingiltl is-flush with=theinternal wall .or surface :of'the tnbinge 11 tov provide 'for the free; unrestrictedfiow of. fiuidtfrorn one tube 'to the other: 1 As will be seen from an inspectioniof? Figurel, th'e fiIIidpassage through'the. coupling or? joint isfree, clear and unobstructed an'diistof uniformi diarneters'exceprfor th'eeryminor annular igroove at *th'esh'oulder. 13; if desired, the shoulder '13 be formed'itorconfoim' :with theend oi the-tubing iii-although in most cases :ittwill b'e preferred to haversorne curvature or radiiiat'theishouider lfi as illustrate In order to efiect an'd insure:atfiuid-tightfseal'between theoverlapping ortteleseopingzportions 'ofithe tubings l'fl and'll, a= seaiing'ring :14 is provided; in ithe tub'e portion This portionx 12: is formed or providedr'with an internal annular groove 152for 'containinggorrreceiving:thei seal ring 14-. The2groover15n1ay befeasily formediwith or by 'arbeading tooLLor the li'ke','.atitheftirneithe portion 12= is enlarged in diameten'it .beingtapparent that the por tion' 12 may; be: enlarged and :thefgroovei 151 formedi by any 1 suitable on selected? method that. merely 'slfapes or forms the=wall of the: tubing:iti'with'outfmachining or cutting; the same; The: seat-ring? 14 is" preferablyi'what is known' as an OT-ring,-I.being:-'a continuous on'e pieCeE member: oferubber, synthetic rubber,irubbercompiosition;

onthe -lit'e; of round :transverse crosstsection'l. The'sring 14 is proportionedvto be compressedfslightlyxin tlieiradial direction when: the tubelii is-slid: into theien'i'argedmortion lkofdhe? tube 11% so was: to haveietf ectiverseali'ng engage merit? between the-tubes; However, .the'lrelationship' s such thatthere is :'I1'0 possibility ot'rthe"ringll4 beingidis placed OIKPllShCCi lfrom' theigI00V6 153Wh 3i1 th :tubes iare assembled.

Clamp means-isprovided totightenithezspiit end portion '1iZ='0f-the.:tube 11 onto. the tube '10. The portion alz h'a'sfi a pluralityi-of-circumferentially'spaced cuts or slits 16 extending axially; from; its; end:ztowardiithevgroovei 15 so asto-be radially flexible-"and cornpressible There-may be -cue, two, three; four: or morerslits 16; The clamp means engages about the slit portion 12 r and 3 serves toi tighten it on-tothe tube'rldi' In Figures i11anrd:-:2lwe:=have shown a-clamp: including :a Ffiexibie metatistraprfl -'engag ing; about th'eslit portion izand: having.- .outwardly con verginggparts: :13: weldechor otherwise:secured' to ut- 19. 2 A thumb-screw 2 3 is threaded: through? the nun-1'9 and: has a curved or arcuate pressure foot 21 for cooperating with the exterior of the tube portion 12 in the area between the strap portions 18. It will be seen that by tightening down the clamp screw 20 the clamp is actuated to compress the slit tube portion 12 so as to grip the tube 10. In practice, the joint constructed as just described will withstand an internal fluid pressure of several hundred p. s. 1.

In Figures 3 and 4 we have illustrated a joint or union of the invention for connecting two plain tubes 10. It will be observed that the spaced opposing ends of the tubes 10 are each of uniform internal and external diameter. The coupling, joint or union includes a tubing body 30 which is constructed or formed of a piece or section of tubing stock slightly larger in diameter than the sections 10. The relationship of the tubing sections 10 and the body 30 is such that the body 30 may be slid along or over the sections 10. The union body 30 has substantially the same internal diameter as the external diameter of the tubes 10. The end portions of the body 30 snugly receive the end parts of the tubes 10 and have spaced longitudinal cuts or slits 32 so as to be radially compressible. Annular internal grooves 33 are provided in the body 30 some distance inwardly from its opposite ends and may be substantially the same as the groove 15 of Figure 1. These grooves 33 receive or contain seal rings or rings 34 of rubber, synthetic rubber, rubber composition, or the like, for sealing between the body 30 and the tubes 10.

.Clamps are provided on the slit end portion of the body 30 to compress them onto the tubes and thus secure together the union assembly. These clamps, as illustrated, include flexible metal straps 45 engaged about the enlarged union body 30 and provided at their ends with split loops 36. T bolts 37 are provided to tighten the straps 45. Each bolt 37 has a head or cross rod 38 engaged in one of the loops 36 of its respective strap 45 and has a nut 40 on its other end for cooperating with a sleeve 41 which, in turn, engages a bushing 42 in the other loop 36 of the strap. By tightening down the nuts 40 the straps 45 are contracted to compress the split ends of the body 30 onto the plain tubes 10. If desired, clamps, such as shown in Figures 1 and 2, may be employed on the joint structures of Figures 3 and 4 and in a like manner the coupling or joint of Figures 1 and 2 may embody the type of clamp illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. It is to be observed that with the clamps loose, the body 30 may be slid onto or along one tubing section 10 to permit the other section to be brought into proper position in the line or to be moved out of position as desired. This greatly facilitates the making up and disconnecting of the tubing system or line.

.From the foregoing detailed description it will be seen that we have provided extremely simple inexpensive light weight tubing joints and unions. They embody a minimum number of parts, the only elements required in addition to the tubes themselves being the seal rings 14 or 34 and the appropriate clamps. It will be noted that the tubes or tubing themselves form the bodies of the joints,

eliminating the necessity for the usual union or coupling bodies, glands, nuts, etc. as found in conventional joints, couplings and unions. The joints necessitate no restrictions in the lines so that a free unimpeded flow of fluid is assured. The joints are small in size and, therefore, well adapted for situations where the available space is limited. Furthermore the joints are easily assembled and actuated even in confined inaccessible situations.

Having described only typical forms of the invention We do not wish to be limited to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A tube joint comprising two thin-walled tubular members having .walls of substantially the same thickness, one of said tubular members having an internal diameter at one end at least as great as the external diameter of the other tubular member so that the former tubular member will telescope over the latter tubular member, said latter tubular member being of constant diameter from one end to a substantial distance toward the other, said one end of said former tubular member being axially slotted, said slots opening at said one end and being substantially of equal length and spaced circumferentially and parallel to each other, said former tubular member having an external annular bead providing an internal annular recess in said tubular member, the outer edge of said bead being substantially axially adjacent the closed ends of said slots, a sealing ring seated in said recess having its internal diameter less than the internal diameter of said former tubular member, removable annular clamping means clamping said slotted end of said former tubular member rigidly against said latter tubular member and engaging the external surface of said former tubular member about its slotted end when said tubular members are telscoped together, said clamping means having its inner end substantially adjacent the outer edge of said bead, said outer edge of said bead being radially deformed by the pressure exerted by the clamping means so as to compress said sealing ring between said tubular members, said clamping means having a width at least equal to the length of said slots for exerting effective clamping pressure.

2. A joint for connecting two thin-walled tubes comprising a thin-walled tubular member of substantially the same thickness as said tubes, said tubular member having an internal diameter at its ends at least as great as the external diameter of the respective tubes so that said tubular member will telescope over the respective tubes, said tubes being of constant diameter from one end to a substantial distance toward the other, said tubular member being axially slotted at one end, said slots opening at said one end and being of equal length and spaced circumferentially and parallel to each other, said tubular member having an external annular bead providing an internal annular recess in said tubular member, the outer edge of said bead being substantially axially adjacent the closed end of said slots, said other end 'of said tubular member being similarly slotted, said similar slots opening at said other end and running axially substantially an equal distance and spaced circumferentially and parallel to each other, said tubular member having a second annular bead providing a second internal annular recess in said tubular member, the outer edge of said second annular bead being substantially axially adjacent the closed end of said similar slots, sealing rings seated in said recesses having their internal diameters less than the internal diameter of said tubular member, removable annular clamping means clamping said slotted ends of said tubular member rigidly against said tubes and engaging the external surface of said tubular member about its slotted ends when said tubular member and said tubes are telescoped together, said clamping means having its inner ends substantially adjacent the outer edges of said beads, said outer edges of said beads being radiallydeformed by the pressure exerted by the clamping means so as to compress said sealing rings between said tubular member and said tubes, said clamping means having a width at least equal to the length of said slots for exerting effective clamping pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 642,188 Weston et al Jan. 30, 1900 1,473,537 Bailey Nov. 6, 1923 1,790,111 Pike Jan. 27, 1931 1,953,120 Miller Apr. 3, 1934 2,025,271 Compo Dec. 24, 1935 2,321,930 Murray June 15, 1943 2,426,423 Woolsey Aug. 26, 1947 2,457,105 Patterson Dec. 21, 1948 2,515,899 Sanger-Stevens July 18, 1950 2,531,401 Clerke Nov. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 281,769 Italy Aug. 31, 1929 85,860 Austria Oct. 10, 1921 

